Mikiwam: Solarpunk Herbalism

Serve magic elemental teas to influence a vibrant community in Mîkiwâm. 

Step into the story of Awâsis, reconnect with an estranged home, and discover the true power of your Gift. Influence relationships, rebuild what was lost, and find your place in a fractured, healing world.

Demo available for download now!

Presskit

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Gameplay:

In Mîkiwâm, every interaction starts with a cup of tea. As Awâsis, a healer's apprentice, you'll see people's emotions as elemental energies—Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Using the power of plants, you'll brew teas that can influence these energies, guiding people toward strength, vulnerability, or change.

Each choice you make—each tea you brew—shapes the lives of those around you. Will you inspire courage, calm a storm, or perhaps create chaos? The ripple effects of your choices will decide the future of the community.

As you learn more about the plants and elements, new interactions and storylines unfold. The people you meet are not always who they appear to be, and your influence can bring about revelations, transformations, or unintended consequences.

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The Story:

500 years ago, the Crown government arrived, fought the People, and confined them to surveilled slums. Talk of Gifts was forbidden, and those with Gifts were taken away. The knowledge of how to use these abilities, and how to work alongside the beings, was shattered.

Now, 50 years after the fall of the Crown government, communities are rebuilding, cities are being remade into autonomous zones, and people are trying to reconnect with what was lost. But few know or even believe in the Gifts, and those who possess them often struggle to understand their power.

The remnants of the Crown’s influence have left toxic machinery, failed experiments, and oppressive ideologies in place. Sometimes, these shadows come alive in strange forms—ghosts of the past, corrupted spirits, or remnants of military tech still active in the wilds.

You play as Awâsis, who recently left behind the city of Sonîsîpîkh to return to her mother's home community. Struggling with uncontrollable visions and feeling isolated from her family, Awâsis finds herself taken in by Matsi, a charismatic healer who offers to mentor her. Matsi promises to teach her how to use her Gift—the ability to see and manipulate emotions through the elements.

As Awâsis learns more about her Gift, she must decide who to trust and which influences to follow. Matsi has her own motivations, and the other people Awâsis encounters are also navigating their own struggles. Every character is dealing with the aftermath of colonization, healing, and striving to find their place in a changing world.

Will Awâsis use her powers to help others heal, or will she be led into darker, manipulative pathways?

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Features:

• An Alternate Indigenous-Fantasy World: Explore an original Indigenous-fantasy world set in the aftermath of decolonization, created by a team of Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) artists.
• Elemental Tea-Making Gameplay: Boil pretty plants, brew powerful teas, and choose the perfect blend to influence each character's mood and journey.
• Moral Dilemmas and Emotional Complexity: Not every choice is clear-cut—face ethical challenges, understand people's desires, and question your own role in their lives.
• Hand-Drawn Art and Animation: Immerse yourself in the world with art hand-drawn by Nehiyaw artist Caeleigh Lightning.
• Cozy Lofi Soundtrack: Relax to an original lofi soundtrack by Nehiyaw musician Taylor Lightning, designed to complement the magical atmosphere of Mîkiwâm.

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About the Demo

In this demo, you'll experience one day in the world of Mîkiwâm. You'll meet and serve tea to three characters, learn about the world through your dialogue choices, and see how the teas you brew affect their stories. Each interaction ripples into the ending scene, which changes based on your earlier choices. You might share a tender moment with the nosy Ivy, find her chasing after her next lead, or discover a more subtle truth.

A new demo is available now—a peek into a world we’re still growing. Full release is on hold while our tiny team takes a well-earned break to finish our degrees. <3